Incident
The aircraft was returning to Kigali after an official flight from Dar es Salaam, carrying members of the Rwandan and Burundian governments, including both presidents. On short final approach to Kigali-Grégoire Kayibanda Airport runway 28, at a height of approximately 100 meters, the aircraft was struck by a SAM16 surface-to-air missile. It subsequently crashed in the garden of the Presidency Residence, about 500 meters from the Kanombe Camp. The wreckage was found 1,850 meters short of runway 28.
Occupants
The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 12 occupants were killed. The crew consisted of pilot Jacky Héraud, copilot Jean-Pierre Minaberry, and flight engineer Jean-Michel Perrine. Passengers included Juvénal Habyarimana, President of the Republic of Rwanda; General Déogratias Nsabimana, Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Armed Forces; Major Thaddée Bagaragaza, orderly officer for President Habyarimana; Colonel Elie Sagatwa, personnel secretary of President Habyarimana; Ambassador Juvénal Renzaho, political affairs counselor to the presidency; Dr. Emmanuel Akingeneye, personal doctor of President Habyarimana; Cyprien Ntaryamira, President of the Republic of Burundi; Bernard Ciza, Minister of Communication of Burundi; and Cyriaque Simbizi, Minister of Planning of Burundi.
Cause
The official findings state that the aircraft was shot down by a SAM16 surface-to-air missile.